US438392A

US438392A - Adjustable

Info

Publication number: US438392A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1907-10-14

Description

PATENT nron.

FRANK K. WARD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ADJUSTABLE CRCQU ET-WICKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,392, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed August 11, 1890. Serial No. 361,672. (No model.) 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK K. WARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Croquet-Wickets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference mar ed thereon, which form apart of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in croquet-wickets, and the object is to produce a durable wicket that will stand the wear and tear incidental to the game; and to this end the novelty consists in the construction of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is afront elevation of my improved wicket; and Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the upper portion of the bow, showing the central coil.

A A are the stanchions, and are provided with balls a a, which, when the stanchions are made of iron wire, may be cast thereon, while if of wood, may be made integral therewith. The bow or bridge B is made of suitable spring-wire, and its ends I) b terminate in closely-wound coils, which tightly encircle the stanchions A A, forming a joint therewith. This bow is provided with an integral central coil b which allows a considerable amount of play between the stanchions and 'takes the strain from the coil ends I) b when one stanchion is driven in the ground in ad- Vance of the other. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the space between the convolutions of this coil can be utilized as a receptacle for a detachable cord or indicator corresponding in color or number to each individual player, while when the wickets are not in use the eye of the coil may be used to suspend the wickets, and thereby prevent theirbecoming damaged through carelessness, as would be the case if thrown about on the ground.

In inserting the wicket in the ground, the balls a a. may be used as handles and the wicket very easily forced into soft ground,

while in very hard ground a few blows with the mallet will accomplish the same purpose, and as the balls are in a direct line with the stanchions there is no danger of bending the wicket either in inserting or withdrawing it. Of course the lower ends of the stanchions terminate in sharp points to facilitate their ready insertion;

In practice I prefer to galvanize the whole Wicket. This makes a joint where the bow joins the stanchion, and this operation, in

addition to giving a finish and strength to the wicket, solders the coil ends of the bow permanently to the stanchions.

It will be observed that in Fig. 1 the righthand ball is marked with the number 1, while the number 14 appears reversed in dotted lines on the left-hand ball. In playing the game this wicket represents the first or start ing one at the stake. As the game is ordinarily played, this is the first wicket, and consequently is numbered 1, and the player leads off to the right, so that each wicket is numbered in regular order consecutively from the directionin which the player is due. After he has passed the second stake and is due for the eighth wicket on his return, which was the seventh wicket down, the number 8 is placed on the reverse side of said wicket, while on the front side would appear the number 7, so that when a player makes a wicket and calls his next number when asked his position is readily located and all confusion or dispute avoided. It will not be necessary to number all the wickets, but simply to double the number on those wickets which are used on the return pl'aythat is to say, the two starting wickets, the middle wicket or cage, and the two wickets near the second stake.

Each wicket is readily located at play, and the numbers being coated with luminous paint are thereby made more conspicuous.

A very important feature of my invention is the adj ustability of the stanchions to and from each other, whereby the game can be made simple and easy to play when the stanchions are spread apart to the utmost limit of the spring-bow or very difficult to play if the stanchions are set so close together as to just permit the passage of the ball, so that even professionals will find the game as interesting and difficult to them as beginners will when the stanchions are far apart, and thus it will be seen as the beginners gain in experience the interest in the game can be increased by gradually lessening the distance between the stanchions until the most difficult or professional limit is reached.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A croquet-wicket composed of the stanchions having enlarged heads and the springwire bow connecting said stanchions and provided with the coil 6 as set forth.

2. Acroquet-wicket composed of two rigid stanchions connected by an arched bow pro- 15 vided with a central spring-coil, as set forth.

3. A croquet-wicket composed of two rigid stanchions and a spring-bow permanently connected thereto, whereby said stanchions may be adjusted with relation to their dis- 2o tance apart, as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK K. WARD.

Witnesses:

WILLIE I-I. WARD, HENRY J. ENNIS.